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MACHINE BUILDING

DIGITAL TWIN

MACHINE CONSTRUCTION

IN THE AGE OF INDUSTRY 4.0,
COMPANIES CAN TURN TO THE
DIGITAL TWIN TO PROVE PROJECT
CONCEPTS BEFORE COMMITTING
TO HARDWARE, AND ON
THROUGH THE LIFETIME OF THE
PLANT THROUGH DESIGN
CHANGES AND UPGRADES. AND
THE DIGITAL TWIN IS JUST AS
RELEVANT TO THE MECHANICAL
ASPECTS OF MACHINE
CONSTRUCTION AS IT IS TO THE
CONTROL ARCHITECTURE
In mechanical and plant engineering it is still
common practice today that the control of a
plant is programmed only after the mechanical
Aparts have been completed. Accordingly, the
interaction of mechanics, control, sensors and software is
tested for the first time during commissioning. If errors
suddenly occur here, it can be expensive.
The solution is the ‘digital twin’ for projects. This is the A large coffee roasting company has recently benefited 40 to 60 units per minute, this method was no longer
virtual counterpart of a system to be created, which is from this approach. There, a Minitec conveyor system has suitable.Minitec therefore suggested using a so-called
stored with all physical, mechanical and electronic been used in the logistics department for some time now, ‘reversible star’ for this process. This is a circular
properties of the real machine. In this way, comprehensive which also had the task of moving the coffee parcels as construction in which the coffee packets are turned over
visualisations and tests can be carried out at an early part of the transport. A special feature was that the forwards when the blades are turned. However, prior to
stage of conception and product development. This not packages had to be folded over with the bottom to the implementation, it was necessary to check whether this
only saves time, but also helps to detect and eliminate front, for which a deflector rail was previously used. would also work in practice. Particularly because of the
errors early on. However, because the cycle time was to be increased from high cycle speed, the aim was to ensure that there would
be no problems later – for example that the packets would
not get stuck or burst open.
To check the performance of the system, Minitec first
implemented the solution as a digital twin. Now the real
behaviour could be completely simulated. Based on the
knowledge gained, various changes were implemented for
the model plant until it worked smoothly. For example,
guide rails were installed in order to calm the initial
‘rolling’ of the packages during further transport. The effort
paid off: in the finished plant, the process worked without
any problems from the very beginning – the customer was
enthusiastic. Incidentally, this approach also reduced the
overall throughput time for the project.
Minitec project manager Peter Müller comments:
“With the digital twin we offer our customers the virtual
commissioning of plants before the actual realisation. The
concept allows us to visualise ideas at an early stage, to
check their usefulness, to eliminate errors and to reduce
the testing effort. The time-to-market for projects can be
significantly reduced, and the customer saves time and
money.”
MORE INFORMATION: www.minitec.co.uk

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • April 2020
32